Shebajo Street, the once quiet street in the heart of Mushin in Lagos State, was rudely awakened by members of the Yoruba film/video producers and marketers association of Nigeria who came out in their hundreds.

Their mission was to seize Akin Iluyemi from his den, the operation base of the kingpin of video piracy in Lagos. He was holed up on a plot of land that has the caveat, ‘419 beware this house is not for sale’.

Trailing the fox

As early as 5am on Tuesday March 16, 2011, Yoruba actors of all classes gathered at 31, Shebajo Street, Papa Ajao, Mushin, with the intention of apprehending Akin Iluyemi, the owner of Atrik Ventures Limited.

Since the operation was unsuccessful, they had to wait until the official resumption time of Atrik, surprisingly nobody came to work that day, and the association members had to break into the office.

The evidence

Right inside the office of Akin Iluyemi, were printing machines and duplicating machines. Actors present wept at the sight of what they saw. Movies yet to be released were seen at the printing stage while recently released movies such as ‘Ijan’ba Sole’, ‘Oba Mugu’, ‘Olori Ole’, ‘Babajide Raji Fasasi (BRF)’ etc had already been duplicated.

Akin Iluyemi, has been the manufacturer and distributor of all pirated indigenous movies, with offices spread across the country and affiliates in every major city in Nigeria.

Mode of operation

According to investigations it was discovered that movies, once released in Idumota and Alaba, are taken into his den by his foot soldiers and these movies are immediately taken to his dubbing department where machines can print fifteen thousand CDs in one hour.

Some of Atrik’s affiliate offices were also visited by members of Yoruba film/video producers and marketers association of Nigeria. Yet to be released movies were also discovered and were immediately seized and destroyed.

At 46, Owoduni Street, the owner of the printing and duplicating office took to his heels on sighting the angry crowd coming to invade his office.

The Area Commander, Area ‘D’ Mushin, Lagos, Uwem Akpan refused to comment on the matter but referred this reporter to the Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO) at the national headquarters in Abuja.

“Please go to the PPRO’s office in Abuja, I am not the right person to talk about it.”

In order to further find out about the efficiency of his activities and plans to rid his domain of criminals like this, the area commander said he would rather talk about this in camera.

“If you want any information about what happened today, please visit me in my office.”

A coded business

Investigation revealed that Akin Iluyemi’s business has been shrouded in secrecy as neighbours came out to show solidarity with the aggrieved actors and producers.

For Kunle Fagbim a neighbour that lives on the street. “He is mischievous; he does not employ people that live around here and we only see people drive in and drive out.”

Talking with venom that is usually seen only in movies ,was the way almost all the residents of Shebajo Street expressed their feelings.

Segun Aderibigbe, believes that the MD/CEO of Atrik Ventures Limited is a self-centered man. “He is a dangerous man and he looked every inch like it, he is selfish, we know him but there is nothing we can do about it. There was a time that his wife’s Armada jeep was stolen and he replaced it the same day; where did he make that kind of money from? He is arrogant and a devil-incarnate. Before now we know that he is a man of questionable character but there is nothing we can do about it.”

An angry lot

Olamilekan Atolagbe, MD/CEO, Sodam Ventures believes that the police should be held responsible for most of the criminal activities that is going on in this country; “Police is not helping us, we invited them to Alaba the other day and they did not do anything.

“These people release our movies with us simultaneously and it is very difficult to differentiate the original from the pirated copies. We have not been able to meet our responsibilities with our producers. We have not been able to pay them their money and life has been a living hell with us and this man is making millions pirating our work.”

Noting all the support from the Lagos State Censors Board, the chairman of High Waves Video Mart, Aina Kushoro Olurotimi, said the enforcement agencies are doing enough.

“How can a man like this be changing cars on a regular basis and you think it is normal. There are 16 printing machines in his premises. This man is a rogue.”

Impact

The crippling effect of Akin Iluyemi’s piracy has touched everyone in this business. According to Taiwo Abdulahi Abdulrasheed, managing director of Mercury Pictures, “The sales of video movies has for about five years has been low and was almost grounded until God came to our rescue and we discovered this man and we know that through him other arrests would be made. Though he is on the run now but God will surely avenge for us since the arm of the law is not able to bring him to book.

Some of the associates of Akin Iluyemi are still in detention and their business premises have also been sealed.